Fashion

Fashion

At the shows

Toronto Fashion Week: Day three

Shown: GRETA CONSTANTINE Fall 2008. Photography by Sarah Casselman

The media lounge is starting to fill up with grumpy eds: Not enough food, the loo sitch is rather bleak, and the rain is starting to wreak havoc on blowouts and Bruno Frisonis.  Best accessories spotted at the tents: Everything-but-the-kitchen-sink patent totes, jewel-tone cocktail rings, fedoras, bright scarves and feather hairbands.  New must-have nail colour: Red.

Designers Joyce Gunhouse and Judy Cornish of Comrags showed a strong Fall collection.  Lots of tweed coats, plaid wool dresses, vintage-print Granny shirts and jumpers.  Colour palette: brown, clay, olive, charcoal, black, red, navy and caramel. FASHION loved the wave opera dress and the pieces with faux-fur trims which added an unexpected layer of drama to an otherwise ‘expected’ lineup.  Bravo ladies, bravo.

Montreal-based designer darling Andy Thê-Anh is a fave among the fashion set. FASHION’s only sweet suggestion?  Edit, edit, edit.  Too many looks on the runway.  Fave pieces: Jacquard day dresses (polished perfection!), lustrous chiffon gowns (très sophisticated!) and high-waisted skirts (sexy!).  Best new look for Fall: long riding jacket. FASHION desperately needs this to complete our elegant equestrian look–Black Beauty not included.  Hot new colours: Tobacco and taupe.  Bland is anything but boring.  Oooooh, and inside scoop: Construction has started on the Andy Thê-Anh Toronto boutique opening this May (Psst, 83 Yorkville Avenue). Ladies, get your VISAs to the starting line…

David Dixon’s Fall ’08 collection was titled “The Long Way Home” based on an awe- inspiring vision of a fresh coat of snow, fall flowers peaking through frost and the sheen of wet pavement.  A lovely image that goes with an even lovelier collection.  Best in show: Metallic-sheen sheath dress, anorak with paillette accents, brightly-coloured gauntlets, voluminous-sleeved frocks, wide-leg trousers and corset-inspired belts.  New colour addiction: Fuschia.  FASHION loved the bold beauty message–very Audrey-inspired–groomed brows paired with a strong red lip.

The final show of the night was chez CiRCA–Greta Constantine. Definitely the ticket of the week.  Lots of media, fabulous people, and those-hoping-to-be-fabulous-someday.  Theme of the show: “Call of the Wild”.  Lots of fur trimmed hoods and collars, neoprene sculptural scuba pieces (FASHION’s fave!), and of course their signature floor-length draped-jersey gowns.  Beaucoup de black in the collection, but we loved the sexy shots of white, red, green (a.k.a pistachio to us fashion folk) and royal purple. Accessories alert: Primal pieces. Bone and horn necklaces, bracelets and rings–a product of their collaboration with Toronto-based jewelry designer Dandi Maestre.  Maestre is FASHION’s new accessory maestro (watch for her pieces in upcoming issues). Bottomline: Big love for Greta.  Muah!  Until my next jottings, duckies…xo

GALLERIES: GRETA CONSTANTINE | COMRAGS | ANDY THÊ-ANH | DAVID DIXON